GB2500649A

GB2500649A - Trailer for a vehicle which may be mounted on a barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2500649A
Application number: GB1205466.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Phizacklea; John Bruton
Original assignee: ACKLEA Ltd
Current assignee: ACKLEA Ltd
Priority date: 2012-03-28
Filing date: 2012-03-28
Publication date: 2013-10-02
Also published as: GB201205466D0

Abstract

A trailer (1, Figure 1) for a road vehicle, the trailer comprising a chassis and an adaptor attached to the underside of the chassis, wherein the adaptor is configured for mounting the chassis upon a fixed rigid structure 25 such that the trailer is raised off the ground. The structure 25 may be a barrier, wall, fence, plinth or pillar and may have a generally trapezoidal profile. The adapter 26 may be shaped to cooperate with the sides of the generally trapezoidal sides of the fixed structure 25. Preferably the chassis includes one or more trailer axle mounts for attachment of removable trailer wheel axle(s) and the adaptor maybe configured for attachment to the trailer axle mounts when the wheel axle(s) are removed. A variable message sign (VMS) (15, Figure 2) may be displayed from the trailer. The trailer may have a battery pack which may be in a weather proofed enclosure or solar panels may be present on the trailer.

Description

Trailer

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a trailer for a road vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF TUE INVENTION

A highway is any public road. A divided highway has a central reservation, or median, between carriageways carrying traffic in opposite directions. A high containment balTier is often installed in the central reservation to prevent, or at least impede, crossover of traffic from one carriageway to the other in the event of an accident.

Installing temporary signage in the centrai reservation, for example during road works, can be dangerous for highway maintenance personnel as they must leave the relative safety of their vehicles in order to install or remove the temporaly signs. Often such personnel have to cross the carriageway form a hard shoulder in order to reach the central reservation if lane closures are to be avoided. This imposes risks which it is desirable to avoid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the invention provides a trailer for a road vehicle, the trailer comprising a chassis and an adaptor attached to the underside of the chassis, wherein the adaptor is configured for mounting the chassis upon a structure, in particular a fixed rigid structure such as a highway high containment barrier, so that the trailer is raised off the ground.

The trailer of the first aspect is advantageous in that it can be lifted on top of a structure such as a highway high containment barrier, a wall or the 111cc. The trailer may be used to support equipment such as a sign board, light gantry or camera, for example. In a highway environment the trailer may be mounted on top of a highway high containment barrier, and therefore out of the way of passing traffic, so that any lane closures can be kept to a minimum which reduces disruption to motorists. The

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equipment, e.g. a sign board, carried by the trailer can therefore be installed adjacent the cmTiageway without the need for personnel to leave their vehicles. In a construction site environment, for example, the trailer may be mounted on top of a wall or fence where vehicular access may be difficult, e.g. on steeply sloping ground.

S The adaptor can be used to securely mount the trailer on the fixed structure to provide stability against wind gust loads, etc. A second aspect of the invention provides a trailer for a road vehicle, the trailer comprising a chassis, road wheels coupled to the chassis, a removable draw bar, and a plurality of jockey wheels each moveable between a raised position and a lowered position with respect to the chassis, wherein when in the lowered position the jockey wheels are adapted to support the weight of the trailer with the road wheels clear of the ground.

The invention of the second aspect is advantageous in that the trailer can be turned upon its lowered jockey wheels. With the draw bar removed the trailer can be turned on the spot or within a very small turning radius, making the trailer particularly well adapted for use on narrow pathways. Once turned the draw bar can be reattached.

The inventions of the first and second aspects may additionally be combined in a single trailer to provide maximise usage flexibility.

The invention also provides a method for converting a road trailer, the trailer initially comprising a chassis having one or more trailer axle mounts and at least one trailer wheel axle attached to the axle mount(s), the method comprising removing the trailer wheel axle(s) and attaching an adaptor to the axle mount(s), wherein the adaptor is configured for mounting the chassis upon a structure, in partic&ar a fixed rigid structure such that the trailer is raised off the ground.

The adaptor may generally be in the form of a plate. For example, the adaptor may be constructed of sheet metal.

The adaptor may have a surface shaped to match the profile of the structure.

The structure may be a barrier, such as a concrete or metal barrier.

The structure may have a generally trapezoidal profile. The adaptor may be configured to cooperate with the top and at least a portion of the lateral sides of the trapezoidal shaped structure. For example, a sheet metal adaptor may be folded downwardly in two places.

S The structure may be a highway high containment barrier. In particular the balTier may be a concrete step ban'ier CSB), or Jersey barrier. A CSB is designed to contain all vehicles up to 13.5 tonnes. The step at the foot of the barrier provides a curb such that smaller vehicles may impact with a tyre only against the curb of the barrier, so minimizing the impact.

The chassis may include one or more trailer axle mounts for attachment of removable trailer wheel axle(s). The trailer wheel axle may have an associated suspension unit, such as a rubber shear tube for example.

The adaptor is preferably configured for attachment to the trafler axle mounts when the wheel axle(s) are removed, The wheel axle(s) may be attached to the trailer axle mounts when the adaptor is removed. In this way, the trailer can be converted between a road transportation configuration and a static configuration mounted atop the structure. In an alternative embodiment, the road wheels may remain attached to the chassis when in the static configuration atop the structure. In a further alternative embodiment, the adaptor may remain fixed to the chassis when in the transport configuration for towing by a road vehicle.

The trailer may further comprise a removable draw bar. The draw bar may be removed for the static configuration, and/or for turning of the trailer.

The trailer may further comprise a frame attached to the chassis. The frame may be used for mounting a message sign, such as a variable message sign (VMS) for example. Modem YMSs are designed to display both pictograms and text. They may be used at road sides, at events, etc. They are typically programmable and therefore able to display an almost infinite variety of messages in single or multiple colours using a matrix display.

The trailer may further compnse a lifting attachment point for attaching the trailer to lifting gear. For example, the attachment point may be a lifting eye for co-operating with a crane hook. The attachment point may be provide at the top of the frame.

The trailer may further comprise one or more battery packs. The battery packs may be used to provide electric power to, e.g. a message sign, lighting unit, or camera mounted on the chassis. The battery pack(s) may be housed within a weatherproof enclosure.

One or more solar panels may be provided for recharging the battery packs. The solar panels may be provide on top of the frame.

In the trailer of the first aspect of the invention, one or more jockey wheels may be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be descnbed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a trailer having a frame for carrying a variable message sign (VMS) in a transport configuration for towing by a road vehicle; Figure 2 illustrates the trailer with the VMS installed on the frame; Figure 3 illustrates the trailer in a static configuration mounted upon a concrete step barrier (CSB) and with the VMS removed for clarity; and Figure 4 illustrates a side view of the trailer showing the doors for access to the enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

Figure 1 illustrates a trailer 1 for towing by a road vehicle. The trailer I includes a main chassis frame 2, a base frame 3 mounted upon the chassis 2 and a sign frame 4 supported by the base frame 3. The base frame 3 supports a battery box frame 5 comprising a plurality of battery packs 6.

The main chassis frame 2 includes a left and nght trailer axle mounts 7 to which respective wheel axle/suspension units 8 are fastened. On the end of each wheel axle 8 is a road whed 9 having a tyre 10. Mud guards II are attached on either side of the main chassis frame 2 over the wheels 9.

The battery box frame 5 is disposed within a weatherproof enclosure 12 bounded by access doors 13, side covers 14 and a portion of the sign frame 4. In this example. the sign frame 4 is sized to accommodate an MS4 type variable message sign (VMS) 15 mounted upon the sign frame 4 by a plurality of fastening brackets 16, as shown in Figure 2.

A lifting frame 17 extends from the main chassis frame 2 to the top of the sign frame 4 and includes a lifting eye 18. The roof of the lifting frame i7 is populated by solar panels 19 on either side of the lifting eye 18, A rernovaHe draw bar 20 is coupled to the main chassis frame 2 and extends forwardly from a substantially central portion of the forward end of the main chassis frame 2. A trailer hitch head assembly 21 is disposed at the forward end of the draw bar 20 for coupling to a towing bar of a towing road vehicle (not shown).

At the rear of the trailer 1 a pair of road light assemblies 22 are provided on left and right sides of the trailer chassis 2.

The trailer 1 includes four jockey wheels with one jockey wheel 23 provided near a forward end of the draw bar 20 and three jockey wheels 24 attached to the main chassis frame 2. Two of the jockey wheels 24 are attached to the forward corners of the main chassis frame 2 and the third jockey wheel 24 is disposed substantially centrally at the rear of the main chassis frame 2.

In Figure 1 the MS4 VMS has been removed for clarity so as to make visible more the features of the trailer 1. Figure 2 ifiustrates the trailer 1 with the MS4 VMS 15 installed. The MS4 VMS is a full matrix high intensity LED two-colour display and is fully programmable to display an almost infinite number of traffic symbols and/or text displays. The VMS 15 is powered by the battery packs 6 and communicates via an RS486 bus as standard, with GSM, radio, TCP-IP, modem, or internet options possible. It will be appreciated that whilst in this particular embodiment the sign frame 4 is configured to support the MS4 type VMS 15 the sign frame 4 can be configured to receive any other type of sign, e.g. a fixed or variable message sign of any type.

Furthermore, the trailer design is sufficiently adaptable such that the sign frame 4 may be replaced with any other type of equipment frame for supporting a variety of equipment, such as a light gantry, roadside camera etc. The solar panels 19 are electrically connected to the battery packs 6 for recharging the battery packs during periods of daylight.

The wheel axle/suspension units 8 are conventional rubber sheer suspension units.

The jockey wheels 23, 24 are also of conventional type adjustable between a raised position and a lowered position. Each of the jockey wheels 23, 24 is lockable in the raised position, the lowered position, and may additionally be lockable at any intermediate position.

Whilst it is, of course, common for a jockey wheel to be provided toward the forward end of the draw bar 20, a particularly advantageous feature of the trailer i is the provision of a plurality of jockey wheels 24 on the main chassis frame 2. In this embodiment, three jockey wheels 24 are provided. The jockey wheels 24 in combination with the removable draw bar 20 and the compact dimensions of the main chassis frame 2 enable the trailer 1 to be turned in tight spaces.

The jockey wheels 24 in their lowered position can be used to raise the main road wheels 9 clear of the ground. For this reason, at least three jockey wheels 24 are provided on the main chassis frame 2. Four or more jockey wheels 24 may alternatively be provided. Then, by removing the removable draw bar 20, the trailer chassis 2 can be rotated through any angle on the spot. Therefore, the trailer i can be turned within the trailer width. This is particularly advantageous on narrow pathways.

After turning the trailer, the draw bar 20 may be reattached or not, as desired.

Whilst the trailer I has been described above in its road configuration suitable for towing by a road vehicle, the trailer 1 may be converted for lifting atop a highway high containment barrier in a manner which will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 3 illustrates a high containment concrete barrier, which in this particular example is a concrete step barrier (CSB) 25 found on major roads in the UK highway S network. The CSB is similar in design to the "Jersey" barrier found in North America and elsewhere.

The CSB 25 is a vehicle restraint system designed to contain vehicles up to 13.5 tonnes. The CSB has a generally trapezoidal profile and has a step near its base so as to define a low curb. The stepped profile helps to reduce injury to occupants of small vehicles. e.g. cars, by limiting contact with the barrier to between the base of the bonier and the vehicle's tyres. The CSB 25 is provided as a predominantly continuous structure on restricted access highways, such as motorways, but may be discontinuous on other major roads such as dual carriageways, for example. The CSBs are typically installed in the central reservation of divided highways.

As shown in Figure 3, the trailer 1 with the sign frame 4 for supporting the VMS 15 (VMS not shown in Figure 3 for clarity) has been converted by removal of the removable draw bar 20 and the jockey wheels 23, 24 and by replacement of the wheel axle/suspension units 8 (with wheels and tyres 10) with an adapter 26. The adapter 26 is configured for mounting the chassis 2 of the trailer upon the CSB 25.

As best shown in the side view of Figure 4, the adapter 26 is generally in the form of a plate and has an inner surface shaped to match the profile of at least the upper portion of the CSB 25. In particular, the adapter 26 is configured to cooperate with the top and at east a portion of the lateral sides of the generally trapezoidal shaped CSB 25.

The adapter 26 may be constructed from sheet metal, such as steel, for example. The adapter 26 is attached to the trailer axle mounts 7 by fasteners, such as bolts. As can be seen from Figure 4. the trailer ax'e mounts 7 are disposed substantially centrally front to rear along the main chassis frame 2 such that the adapted trailer 1 is well balanced atop the CSB 25. It is noticeable that the mud guards 11 are disposed slightly rearwardly with respect to the trailer axle mounts 7 so as to accommodate the trailing arm of the wheel axle/suspension units 8.

The doors 13 best shown in Figure 4 provide access to within the enclosure 12 for accessing the battery packs 6, electrical connections, etc. The trailer 1 with the adapter 26 is converted from its road configuration and then lifted, for example by a lifting crane having a lifting hook which cooperates with the lifting eye 18 on top of the Ufting frame 17, and positioned on top of the CSB 25. The adapter 26 may further be secured to the CSB 25 directly, e.g. by fasteners.

As has been described above, the trailer 1 having the VMS 15 is particularly adaptable for transportation and setting up in a variety of locations. The adapter 26 enables the trailer 1 to be positioned on the highway central reservation high containment barrier for displaying information to motorists, for example during roadworks. without highway maintenance personnel needing to leave their vehicles. This increases safety for highway maintenance personnel and also reduces the need for, and duration of, any lane closures. For example. a conventional trailer having a sign board may need to be parked within a coned region of a carriageway thus reducing the number of available lanes available to road users.

Also, the combination of a removable draw bar and a plurality of jockey wheels disposed on the main chassis frame enables the trailer to be turned in tight spaces.

This may be particularly beneficial where the trailer is to be used at public events, such as major sporting occasions, where narrow pathways may prohibit use of conventional trailer designs.

As an alternative to an adaptor for mounting upon a highway high containment barrier, the adaptor may be configured for mounting upon any fixed rigid structure that can support the trailer raised off the ground. For example, the adaptor may be configured for mounting on any balTier, wall, fence or the like.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims I. A trailer for a road vehicle, the trailer comprising a chassis and an adaptor attached to the underside of the chassis, wherein the adaptor is configured for mounting the chassis upon a fixed rigid structure such that the trailer is raised off the ground.
2. A trailer according to claim 1, wherein the adaptor is removable.
3. A trailer according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the adaptor is generally in the form of a plate.
4. A trailer according to any preceding claim, wherein the adaptor has a surface shaped to match the profile of the structure.
5. A trailer according to any preceding claim, wherein the structure is one selected from the group comprising: a barrier, a fence, a wall, a plinth, or a pillar.
6. A trailer according to any preceding claim, wherein the structure is a highway high containment barrier.
7. A trailer according to any preceding claim, wherein the structure has a generally trapezoidal profile.
8. A trailer according to claim 7, wherein the adaptor is configured to cooperate with the top and at least a portion of the lateral sides of the trapezoidal shaped structure.
9. A trailer according to any preceding claim, wherein the structure is a concrete step barrier (CSB) or Jersey barrier.
10. A trailer according to any preceding claim, wherein the chassis includes one or more trailer axle mounts for attachment of removable trailer wheel axle(s).
11. A trailer according to claim 10, wherein the adaptor is configured for attachment to the trailer axle mounts when the wheel axle(s) are removed.
12. A trailer according to claim 10 or claim 11, further comprising one or more wheel axles for attachment to the trailer axle mounts when the adaptor is removed.
13. A trailer according to any preceding daim, further comprising a removable draw bar.
14. A trailer according to any preceding claim, further comprising a frame attached to the chassis.
15. A trailer according to claim 14, further comprising a message sign mounted on the frame.
16. A trailer according to claim 15. wherein the message sign is a variable message sign.
17. A trailer according to any preceding claim, further comprising a lifting attachment point for attaching the trailer to lifting gear.
18. A trailer according to any preceding claim, further comprising one or more battery packs.
19. A trailer according to a claim 18, further comprising an enclosure for weatherproofi ng the battery pack(s).
20. A trailer according to any preceding claim, further comprising one or more solar panels.
21. A trailer according to any preceding claim, further comprising one or more jockey wheels.
22. A method for converting a road trailer, the trailer initially comprising a chassis having one or more trailer axle mounts and at least one trailer wheel axle attached to the axle mount(s), the method comprising removing the trailer wheel axle(s) and attaching an adaptor to the axle mount(s), wherein the adaptor is configured for mounting the chassis upon a fixed rigid structure such that the trailer is raised off the ground.
23. A method according to claim 22, further complising lifting the trailer having the adaptor atop the structure.
24. A trailer substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.